"How to Live a Proper Life” is a deeply personal and contemplative archive project that explores the process of mourning , remembering, and resilience within my family in Jos, Nigeria following the passing of three beloved members - my cousin El-Nathan, my uncle Yuna, and my grandmother Teresa. Their deaths profoundly impacted and drove me to reconnect with my family and document their journeys through grief and healing after years of being unable to travel back from the United States.
This project seeks to address the profound and often invisible ways in which time and change affect our lives, particularly in the context of loss, and the aim is to create a comprehensive and multi-dimensional online digital archive that captures the emotional and psychological landscapes of those left behind.
By weaving together a diverse array of media, I intend to craft a rich, textured narrative that reveals the complexity of both grieving and celebrating one's life.
The funding for this project will be crucial in bringing this vision of an online archive to fruition, supporting its creation and production which includes:
travel between Nigeria and New York
the gathering and digitization of archival materials
the creation of new media and artwork
Additionally, the funds will facilitate the design and publishing of the archive online, ensuring that it is a high-quality, enduring, and compassionate representation of my family’s collective experience.
The Imagination Fund will aid my growth by allowing me to refine my skills in collaborative conversation, visual storytelling, and design. I envision creating an initiative that highlights my culture and history, illustrating the vital role of the arts in our shared narrative. I also wish to explore innovative methods of presenting my family archive and expanding my creative toolkit by including my own personal writing, illustration, photography, and collages.
I trust that the impact this project will have is a social, artistic, and communal one; one that encourages dialogue around the importance of preserving cultural narratives and fostering a deeper understanding of our collective experiences. By bringing attention to our connections through honoring loved ones that have passed, I intend to foster a sense of responsibility towards preserving our culture and environment for future generations.
Ultimately, this fund will not only support my artistic growth but also contribute to the enrichment of my community through storytelling and collaboration.
Below are images from various artists and image makers whose works have lent significant inspiration to my vision: